It doesn’t seem possible, but Thanksgiving is here, and that means the holiday season is upon us. For those who love to cook, it’s also peak season for baking.

To inspire our efforts, there’s a new batch of baking cookbooks out this fall. Here is a look at six new books, with sample recipes.

“One Sweet Cookie: Celebrated Chefs Share Favorite Recipes”

Author: Tracey Zabar

Photos: Ellen Silverman

Publisher: Rizzoli

Cost: $30; Hardback

When her friends rejected Zabar’s suggestion for a cookie swapping party, she came up with the idea of creating a “virtual cookie swap” by gathering favorite and signature recipes from 75 of New York City’s most talented chefs. This beautifully photographed book has Banana Chocolate Chip Sandwiches from Jennifer McCoy of Craft; Coconut Macaroons from Sarabeth Levine of Sarabeth’s Bakery, and Crazy Cowboy Cookies from Mario and Benno Batali of Babbo, to name a few. The author sprinkles in a number of her own recipes, including Wicked Chocolate Biscotti. It’s an eclectic but interesting collection, and many of the recipes are surprisingly simple.

Junior’s is the Brooklyn-based restaurant/bakery known for its legendary cheesecake. This third cookbook from Junior’s is a collection of favorite recipes from the restaurant. Included, of course, is the recipe for Junior’s Original New York Cheesecake; in fact, there’s a whole chapter on cheesecakes. Other desserts include layer cakes, cookies, cupcakes and a chapter on soda fountain desserts. Among the recipes are Junior’s Egg Creams, Grandma’s Lemon Loaf and Bourbon Sweet Potato Pie. What’s not to like? To balance these decadent treats, there’s also a chapter called “For Those Watching Their Sugar,” with sugar-free versions of some of Junior’s recipes.

“Cookies for Kids’ Cancer Best Bake Sale Cookbook”

Author: Gretchen Holt-Witt

Photos: Lucy Schaeffer

Publisher: Wiley

Cost: $19.99; Hardback binder

The author’s son, Liam Witt, was diagnosed with cancer in 2007 at age 2½; he died in February. While Liam was undergoing treatment, his mother came up with the idea to organize a massive bake sale that was held over three weeks and sold 96,000 cookies, raising $400,000 for pediatric cancer research. That initial event has morphed into the “Cookies for Kids Cancer” nationwide bake sale movement (see more information at

cookiesforkidscancer.org). This book mixes such recipes as Five-Layer Bars, Cream Cheese Cookies and Eggnog Cupcakes with instructions for organizing and holding a fundraising bake sale. Also woven throughout the cookbook are testimonials from parents and students who have participated in one of the “Cookies for Kids Cancer” events. All the author’s royalties from the book will be donated to the cause.